WAIFF
FOUNDERS
2026
A TEAM OF
VISIONARY LEADERS
The World A.I. Film Festival (WAIFF) is backed by a team of visionary leaders and pioneering organizations, united by a common mission:
To unleash the creative potential of artificial intelligence in the service of cinema while respecting ethics and the rights of creators.
Charles Ange Ginésy
President of the Alpes-Maritimes Department and the Maison de l’intelligence artificielle
A French composer, performer, and producer, widely regarded as a pioneer of electronic music. Born in Lyon in 1948, he began experimenting with electronic sounds in the late 1960s, combining synthesizers, tape loops, and innovative production techniques. He achieved international recognition with Oxygène (1976), followed by landmark albums such as Équinoxe and Magnetic Fields, which helped bring electronic music to a global mainstream audience. Jarre is also known for his large-scale outdoor concerts, integrating music, architecture, laser technology, and visual projections, often performed in iconic locations before millions of spectators.
David Lisnard
Maire de Cannes
David Lisnard, né en 1969 à Limoges, est maire de Cannes depuis 2014, réélu en 2020 avec 88 %, et président de l’Association des Maires de France depuis 2021. Ancien commerçant et entrepreneur, diplômé de Sciences Po, il a exercé diverses responsabilités locales et nationales, notamment à la tête de l’agglomération Cannes Lérins. Auteur de plusieurs ouvrages politiques et culturels, il s’engage contre l’incivisme, pour la maîtrise des finances publiques et le rayonnement culturel. Descendant d’une famille cannoise, il est marié et père de trois enfants.
Marco Landi
WAIFF Founder
Marco Landi, former president of Apple and an iconic figure in the field of artificial intelligence, is the founder and main sponsor of the festival. Co-founder of the EuropIA Institute, he has always been a strong advocate of ethical and creative A.I.
The EuropIA Institute, based in Sophia Antipolis, is a pioneering organization dedicated to raising awareness and training the general public on the challenges of artificial intelligence. By supporting the WAiFF, the EuropIA Institute demonstrates the immense potential of A.I. in film creation.
Jean-Edouard ANDRÉ
Festival Director
Producer, line producer and director (TV), he has brought together great directors and young cinema talents on several magazine series. A teacher in leading schools (SciencesPo, XR-3D schools), he drives the evolution of professions and the transformation of teaching methods, in the era of A.I.
A specialist in complex project management, he leads strategic initiatives for the Festival and guides his partners, both public and private, towards new directions.
Julien RAOUT
Official Partner
Julien Raout is a director and trainer specializing in generative artificial intelligence, as well as the artistic director of WAiFF. Founder of Studio Laffitte, based in Sophia Antipolis, he combines art and technology to redefine the boundaries of cinema and visual storytelling. Through his training, he supports creatives in the integration of A.I., while exploring new artistic perspectives. Innovator and teacher, he embodies an inspiring vision of the future of creation.
Sarah Lelouch
Officiel Partner
An innovative producer, Sarah Lelouch is the founder of two major initiatives:
- TechCannes Business Club : This business network connects players in cinema and tech to stimulate innovation, explore new financing methods and build an ecosystem where technology fuels creativity.
- ClapAction : This revolutionary platform invites the public to actively participate in cinematographic creation. By connecting creators, audiences and new writing, clapAction builds an educational and participatory dialogue to reinvent the link with cinema.
As co-organizer, Sarah Lelouch enriches WAiFF with her expertise in community building and her commitment to innovative cinema to remind us that technology, while essential, will never replace talent.
David Defendi
Officiel Partner
David Defendi, award-winning screenwriter (Emmy Awards 2012) and co-founder of GENARIO, is a key player in technological innovation applied to film production.
GENARIO, WAiFF’s official technology partner, is a French artificial intelligence platform dedicated to screenwriting. Its innovative technology supports authors, screenwriters and creators by ensuring respect for intellectual property while exploring new narrative forms. By supporting WAiFF, Genario facilitates the spotlighting of new talents and visionary stories.
Together, these partners and visionaries are building a unique festival, celebrating the harmony between art and technology.
Maxime VALETTE
Officiel Partner
Maxime Valette is a French entrepreneur and web developer specializing in data analysis and artificial intelligence applied to media. He began coding at the age of 7 and founded his first company at 15, selling domain names. At 18, he co-founded Beta&Cie and launched internationally successful projects such as Vie de Merde and FMyLife. As the founder of BetaSeries, he is developing a leading ecosystem for the audiovisual industry, integrating innovative A.I. solutions for the analysis, prediction, and monetization of OTT content.